Lesbian teen sues Miss. school over prom flap

This 2009 photo released by Constance McMillen's family via The ACLU of Mississippi, taken in Fulton, Miss., shows Constance McMillen, 18, a student at the Itawamba County Agricultural High School. The American Civil Liberties Union had demanded she be allowed to bring her girlfriend, who is also a student at the school to the April 2, 2010, prom. The school board met, Wednesday, March 10, 2010, and issued a statement announcing it wouldn't host the prom at the Itawamba County Agricultural High School. (AP Photo/The McMillen Family via The ACLU of Mississippi) NO SALES.
— AP

This 2009 photo released by Constance McMillen's family via The ACLU of Mississippi, taken in Fulton, Miss., shows Constance McMillen, 18, a student at the Itawamba County Agricultural High School. The American Civil Liberties Union had demanded she be allowed to bring her girlfriend, who is also a student at the school to the April 2, 2010, prom. The school board met, Wednesday, March 10, 2010, and issued a statement announcing it wouldn't host the prom at the Itawamba County Agricultural High School. (AP Photo/The McMillen Family via The ACLU of Mississippi) NO SALES.
/ AP

"It's a small town in Mississippi, and it's run by an older generation with money. Most of them are more conservative and they don't agree with it," she said.

Fulton Mayor Paul Walker said he supports the school district's decision and knew of no private efforts to host the prom.

"I think the community as a whole is probably in support of the school district," Walker said of the town of about 4,000.

Itawamba County is a rural area of about 23,000 people in north Mississippi near the Alabama state line. It's near Pontotoc County, Miss., where more than a decade ago school officials were sued in federal court over their practice of student-led intercom prayer and Bible classes.

A couple of students had different reactions to the decision.

Anna Watson, a 17-year-old junior at the high school, was looking forward to the prom, especially since the town's only hotspot is the bowling alley, she said.

"I am a little bummed out about it. I guess it's a decision that had to be made. Either way someone was going to get disappointed - either Constance was or we were," Watson said. "I don't agree with homosexuality, but I can't change what another person thinks or does."

McKenzie Chaney, 16, said she wasn't planning to attend the prom, but "it's kind of ridiculous that they can't let her wear the tuxedo and it all be over with."

A Feb. 5 memo to students laid out the criteria for bringing a date to the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the opposite sex.

Presgraves said his organization hears about school districts that prohibit same-sex prom dates and gay-straight alliance clubs at schools. He said those kind of policies are detrimental to gay students.

"It sends a message that these students shouldn't be treated the same," Presgraves said.